Elastic materials with improved performance at body temperature

Abstract

Laminate compositions with significantly improved retention of elastic and mechanical properties such as stress relaxation, permanent set, elongation modulus and hysteresis and modulus at temperatures slightly above body temperature, under actual use conditions, are formed from polymeric materials containing styrene copolymers and polymeric compounds blended with polyphenylene ether.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A disposable garment comprising a laminate composition having improved elastic properties comprising a dimensionally stable polymeric material, wherein said polymeric material comprises a blend of a styrene block copolymer and polyphenylene ether. 
     
     
       2. The disposable garment of claim  1  wherein the ratio of the styrene in the block copolymer to the polyphenylene ether is from about 1:1.5 to about 2:1. 
     
     
       3. The disposable garment of claim  2  wherein the ratio of the styrene in the block copolymer to the polyphenylene ether is about 1:1. 
     
     
       4. The disposable garment of claim  1  wherein said laminate composition has a percent load loss no greater than about 25%. 
     
     
       5. The disposable garment of claim  1  wherein said garment is a diaper. 
     
     
       6. The disposable garment of claim  1  wherein said garment is a training pant. 
     
     
       7. The disposable garment of claim  1  wherein said garment is an adult incontinence garment. 
     
     
       8. The disposable garment of claim  1  wherein said garment is a protective garment. 
     
     
       9. The disposable garment of claim  1  wherein said garment is a personal care absorbent product selected from the group consisting of diapers, training pants and adult incontinence garments. 
     
     
       10. The disposable garment of claim  9  wherein the styrene block copolymers are selected from the group consisting of triblock copolymers having the general formula A-B-A′ where A and A′ are each rigid blocks of polystyrene and tetrablock copolymers having the formula A-B-A-B where A is a styrene block. 
     
     
       11. The disposable garment of claim  9  wherein the ratio of the styrene in the block copolymer to said polyphenylene ether is from about 1:1.5 to about 2:1. 
     
     
       12. The disposable garment of claim  10  wherein the ratio of the styrene in the block copolymer to said polyphenylene ether is about 1:1. 
     
     
       13. The disposable garment of claim  10  wherein said styrene block copolymers further comprise, tackifier and polyethylene wax.